Media Release

22 February, 2017

Wellington Zoo Sun Bear Sean rescued 20 years ago today

Sean, one of Wellington Zoo’s two Sun Bears, was rescued from outside a shop in Cambodia 20 years ago today, on 22 February 1997. An Australian businessman found Sean chained outside a shop in Phnom Penh and rescued him on the back of his motorbike. After keeping him for a short while at his house he worked with Free the Bears to find a suitable home for Sean’s long-term care.

Free the Bears and the Cambodian Department of Forests and Wildlife sent Sean and two rescued female bears to Perth Zoo in 1998 to establish a regional conservation breeding programme for Sun Bears. Sean came to Wellington Zoo in 2004 to breed with the Zoo’s female bear Chomel.

‘Sean was one of the earliest bear rescues for Free the Bears in Cambodia. Our Founder, Perth grandmother Mary Hutton, worked with the Australasian zoo association to find good homes for those first few bears until we could find a long-term solution to the need for a safe sanctuary for bears rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. We’re grateful to see Sean still healthy and well thanks to the great animal care at Wellington Zoo,’ said Matt Hunt, CEO of Free the Bears.

‘And, in the 20 years since Sean was rescued, we have saved over 900 bears across Asia, including almost 200 in Cambodia alone.’

‘Sean has thrived at Wellington Zoo. He came here as part of the conservation breeding programme for Sun Bears and he was paired with our female Sun Bear Chomel. Their pairing was successful and Chomel gave birth to Sasa in 2006. At that time, Wellington Zoo was the only Zoo in Australasia that had successfully bred Sun Bears,’ said Animal Care Manager, Joanne Richardson.

‘In 2012 we opened a purpose-built habitat for Sean and Sasa. They are the only bears in New Zealand, and our Sun Bears are very special to the people of Wellington. The bears love their habitat, and we were lucky enough to have Matt from Free the Bears here to watch Sean move into his new space. Since Sean has arrived at Wellington Zoo, we have supported Free the Bears as a conservation partner,’ said Joanne.

Sean as a cub in Cambodia

‘We are proud of our partnership with Free the Bears. Strong relationships are key for conservation success and we have been supporting them through the Wellington Zoo Conservation Fund for many years. We have also sent a number of our Zoo staff to their sanctuaries in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam to assist with animal care, learning, marketing and visitor experience,’ said Daniela Biaggio, Wellington Zoo Conservation Manager.

‘In the past we have hosted staff from Free the Bears’ Cambodia sanctuary and in March this year two Free the Bears staff members from Laos will be at Wellington Zoo to learn from our Learning Experience and Animal Care teams.’

‘We are so lucky to have Sean at Wellington Zoo, to be an ambassador for his wild cousins. Sean is helping our visitors learn about the threats to wild bears, in particular deforestation – and inspiring our community to take action by choosing FSC certified wood and paper products,’ said Daniela.

Sun Bears are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to extensive habitat loss in Southeast Asia and their use in traditional medicines.

About Wellington Zoo

Wellington Zoo is New Zealand's first Zoo, established in 1906, and is Wellington’s oldest conservation organisation. Home to over 500 native and exotic animals, Wellington Zoo became a charitable trust in 2003.

Wellington Zoo became the world’s first carboNZero certified zoo in May 2013.

Wellington Zoo is an accredited member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia and a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

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